New York Jets coach Rex Ryan turned the Gatorade-dumping tradition on its head last night in the waning moments of his team's 31-23 road victory over the Miami Dolphins.

Ryan, the foul-mouthed, larger-than-life personality, unexpectedly drenched defensive end Jason Taylor on the sidelines. Taylor was returning to Miami after cementing himself as one of the NFL's top pass-rushers through his long stint with the Dolphins.

The ramifications? A season-ending injury to one of the lone bright spots in this season of all-around deflation for the Cubs.

But what of the aftermath? What will Major League Baseball do in the wake of this close call?

I mean, think about it. A player had his chest punctured as a foreign object violently rammed its way inches from vital organs. That's serious stuff.

So Major League baseball has a question to answer.

Has the shift to maple bats created such a dangerous environment that it needs to be addressed? Like, now?

Or is this a fluke accident? The exception to the rule. The unfortunate, but oft-forgotten reality that playing the game carries risks.

Predictably, the debate over safety on the diamond was pushed front and center a day after Colvin's misfortune. And it's no big surprise. With all due respect to the outfielder, it's not everyday something like this happens. It was a salacious and must-see event, from the realm of the bizarre.

The problem is, it seems that the likelihood of repeating this incident is growing.

It's certainly not the sexiest debate on the sporting landscape, this maple-bat one.

That doesn't mean it's not of paramount importance, especially while the images are fresh in our collective mind.

Maple bats are a point of contention around the league, which has banned some bats from minor-league play, including those of the maple variety. Players on a team's 40-man roster, however, are exempt.

At the root of the issue is the fact that many players have become, in their minds at least, dependent on them. Ever try to convince someone they don't need something they think they do, in fact, need? Yeah, not so easy.

And why are the bats so attractive to hitters?

Maple bats are harder than their ash counterparts and routinely have thinner handles. These, too, can be shaved down even further by hitters looking to lighten their lumber.

One doesn't have to be overly well-versed in science to understand the heavier-barrel-thinner-handle situation is going to result in more snapped bats. And while an ash bat breaks into small pieces when shattered, maple ones often result in larger shards.

The rate of maple bats breaking has dropped 50 percent over the past two seasons, according to a major-league official. Still, that statistic is little consolation to Colvin or anyone seeking to shore up safety.

There is the idea that the Cubs outfielder should have been more aware of the situation. It's an idea that just doesn't hold any weight.

Honestly, what was he supposed to do? He had to watch the ball down the line to gauge his baserunning decision. In all likelihood, he probably didn't even know there was a flying piece of wood flying at him until it was too late.

Then there's the issue of fan safety. Professional athletes have years of instinct and ample athletic prowess to draw upon when dodging these dangers. The paying public? Not so much.

"Get rid of the maple bats. Absolutely, 100 percent," Milwaukee Brewers manager Ken Macha said when asked in the wake of Colvin's injury. "what's going to really happen is one's going to go in the stands. There's people in the stands, they're not paying attention to anything. They're talking to the guy three seats down, not even going move to get out of the way."

Oakland Athletics reliever Brad Ziegler, who was slashed in the back with a flying broken bat earlier this year, echoed those sentiments.

"A little higher and it could have struck him in the throat," he said. "I'm worried there won't be interest in doing anything until it's too late and it takes a lawsuit when a player or fan gets hurt."Until they are eliminated, the danger is still there. ... This is like having a 2-pound tomahawk flying through the air."

Now that one of those "tomahawks" has connected with a human sternum, baseball should have no choice but to address this situation. And address it quickly.

Police reportedly pulled Edwards over for having overly-tinted windows, smelled alcohol and administered a breathalyzer. Edwards was found to have a blood-alcohol level of 0.16, twice the state's legal limit.

A passenger was with the wideout, but the report states it doesn't appear he or she was charged.

Last night in Philadelphia, Atlanta Braves left fielder Matt Diaz identified the problem, then he solved it.

The results were hilarious.

Diaz brought down a man dressed completely in a red, spandex suit -- think cousin of Green Man -- with a well-timed trip as security pursued the rule-breaker.

You'll recall earlier this year, a 17-year-old fan was taken down with a policeman's Taser after deciding to run on the field. After that, the team announced security would be responsible for nabbing geniuses who run on the field and turning them over to police.

Clearly, Matt Diaz > security.

I saw this idiot coming right at me," he said. "I figured he'd be better off getting tripped than Tased."

Diaz received a standing ovation from the crowd and high-fives from his teammates upon entering the dugout.

McKinley, 23, was on the injured reserved list and struggled to find playing time with the club after a standout career at South Carolina.

He is the third Broncos player to die suddenly in the last four years. Cornerback Darrent Williams was murdered in a drive-by shooting and running back Damien Nash died after collapsing in a charity basketball game. Both of those tragedies took place in 2007.

Oakland Raiders linebacker Rolando McClain demonstrated a new and particularly violent way to tackle in yesterday's game against the St. Louis Rams.

McClain debuted his own version of the takedown suplex on Danny Amendola, who weighs in at a paltry 185 pounds. For his efforts, the rookie received widespread internet notoriety and a 15-yard personal foul penalty.

New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs had a night to forget in last evening's "Manning Bowl."

In addition to being held to eight yards on four carries as the Giants lost 38-14, he became the center of unwanted attention when he threw his helmet into the stands during the third quarter.

Jacobs reportedly was attempting to toss his head gear in disgust, but his outburst took an unexpected turn when his helmet stuck to the adhesive part of his gloves. The next thing he knows, NBC is broadcasting this weird tug-of-war for his equipment on national television.

"It was a mistake," Jacobs said. "The whole world could be falling down on me and I wouldn't mean to do that."

Despite the fact that he apologized over and over, the NFL is expected to look into the incident. Jacobs, who did not play after the toss, bristled at the idea that his benching was a result of his sideline actions.

"That's #$%^," he responded when asked in the postgame if there was a correlation. He then apologized, again, for snapping at the reporter.

All in all, not the finest night for the back.

The good news, if there is any, is that Jacobs got his helmet back and held on to it for the rest of the night.

According to a report in today's New York Times, a common theme is emerging out of the city's crime blotter. More and more criminals are breaking the law while wearing Yankees caps or clothing.

Since 2000, more than 100 people who have been suspects or persons of interest in connection with serious crimes in New York City wore Yankees apparel at the time of the crimes or at the time of their arrest or arraignment. The tally is based on a review of New York Police Department news releases, surveillance video and images of robberies and other crimes, as well as police sketches and newspaper articles that described suspects' clothing. No other sports team comes close.

Now, one doesn't have to be a sociologist to realize that part of the reason the number is so high is based purely on the popularity of the brand. It's hard to go three blocks in New York without seeing that classic logo in some shape or form. There's probably more law-abiding Yankees fans that any other group, too.

And maybe, as the piece postulates, it's all Jay-Z's fault.

Regardless of the scientific validity, people will surely use it as another reason to hate those big bullies in the Bronx.

ESPN personality and former Sun-Times sports columnist Jay Mariotti has been charged with seven misdemeanors, including domestic battery in connection with an incident last month involving his live-in girlfriend, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Charges include two counts of domestic violence with injury, two
counts of domestic violence, one count of grand theft, one count of
false imprisonment and one count of vandalism. Each of the counts
carries a maximum of a year in jail, meaning he could face up to seven
years behind bars.

Mariotti is to be arraigned Friday at the
downtown criminal courts building.

Police sources say the confrontation began at a nightclub, where Mariotti accused his girlfriend of flirting with another man. He was released after posting $50,000 bond, but has been noticeably absent from "Around the Horn" and has produced no copy for AOL.

Ines Sainz, the self-proclaimed "hottest sports reporter in Mexico," claims she was dressed appropriately during her appearance in the New York Jets locker room in which she was allegedly harassed with catcalls and other suggestive comments by players.

Sainz was at Jets camp to score an interview with Mark Sanchez over the weekend. But things didn't go so smoothly for the pin-up girl. Rex Ryan and quarterbacks coach Dennis Thurman reportedly intentionally overthrew passes during a drill so they would land next to the comely reporter.

Team officials and the NFL have subsequently said they're looking into the incident.

Today, Sainez tweeted, "Thanks everyone for your
support. I already spoke to the NFL, which will decide if there will or
will not be consequences. I can say that at the time I didn't want to
pay attention to what was happening but the rest of the media heard
clearly and in solidarity have denounced what happened, hoping that
there is always a respectful climate."

Sacramento police responded to a call at the shared residence of Barnes and his girlfriend and determined the two had a physical confrontation. Barnes apparently tried to keep his girlfriend from speaking with emergency dispatchers, according to police.

Both parties had visible injuries, but Barnes was determined to be the aggressor.

Around 7 a.m., an Audi with New Jersey plates collided with a minivan. It is believed that Brady was driving the Audi and was on his way to Gillette Stadium.

Brady was treated at the scene and continued on, presumably to be looked at by the team's trainers. While the All-Everything quarterback walked away from the collision, rescue personnel had to use the jaws of life to extricate a person in the passenger seat of the minivan. The driver of that vehicle also reportedly has serious injuries.

Dennis Rodman gave some guests at a party in the Hamptons over the weekend a thrill when he accidentally broadcast a liaison with six women, courtesy of a microphone in his pocket.

Rodman, who had "a few drinks in him," according to his agent, apparently forgot to turn the device off after making some shout-outs earlier in the night. This allowed the partygoers to hear him describing his hopes and dreams to the harem of women, according to today's report in the New York Post.

One has to assume he wasn't discussing the finer points of boxing out or even the triangle offense.

The party's organizers cut off the feed before things got too out of hand.

New England Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss said that the lack of contract offer from the team makes him feel "not wanted."

"When you have done so much and put so much work in, it kind of feels like I am not wanted," Moss said in an exclusive interview with CBSSports.com. "I am taking that in stride and playing my final year out and whatever the future holds is what it holds, but it is kind of a bad feeling -- feeling not wanted. It is not like my production has gone down. I am speaking from an individual standpoint. I don't know about Tom [Brady's] or whoever else's contract.

"I am a little older and understand the nature of the business -- the older you get the more your skills supposedly diminish, but I think I am getting wiser in how to use my physical skills. That's the frustrating part when you put so much heart and desire into things and feel like you are not wanted."

Moss, 33, is in the final year of a three-year deal with the Patriots and is scheduled to make $6.4 million this season. This interview expressing frustration is the first time he's gone on record since training camp began.

Like Moss, quarterback Tom Brady is also in the final year of his contract, which means the organization would have to spend, spend, spend in order to keep both stars.

Well, now we have a big mess on our hands. Or, at least, we probably will after Boise State rallied with this final drive to edge Virginia Tech 33-30 in the season opener last night.

The Broncos, perennial Cinderellas, came in ranked #3 and this promised to be far and away their most difficult game on the schedule.

Test passed.

So, thanks to Kellen Moore, Austin Pettis and Doug Martin, we'll be privy to the "do they-don't they deserve to be in the national title game" debate -- barring a stumble along the way.

There's no denying that Boise State is a talented, cohesive and gritty team. Moore is a legitimate star and calling the Broncos upstarts isn't really accurate anymore. Still, a cream-puffy schedule just doesn't care the same gravitas as those played by the "big boys" in the power conferences.

Admittedly, it's early. But why not ask? If Boise State wins out, do you see them playing for the title? More importantly, should they?

In a statement released just hour before kickoff, the university issued a release saying Green would be out, "pursuant to UGA Athletic Association policy and pending a ruling from the NCAA clarifying his status."

Green is the fourth Georgia player to be held out of the season opener due to off-field issues.

The question over who would start for the Michigan Wolverines in their season opener against Connecticut seems to have been answered.

Heather Cox is reporting -- brought to my attention via a Joe Schad tweet -- that sophomore Denard Robinson will get the nod, with freshman Devin Gardner serving as the backup. Sophomore Tate Forcier, who got a lion's share of reps last year, is apparently the third-string quarterback today at the Big House.

The mystery surrounding who would be the Wolverines' No. 1 was a major story line, with coach Rich Rodriguez keeping his decision secret until the very last minute.

The NFL is looking into a video of New England Patriots rookie linebacker Brandon Spikes engaging in sexual acts with a woman that's been posted and is circulating about the Web.

Spikes' behavior may not exactly be in line with the league's personal conduct policy.

The video was initially offered to Deadspin by an anonymous e-mailer. After the gang over there balked at the $1,500 price tag associated with such salacious footage, it found a home elsewhere and, as you might imagine, spread quickly.

"It was something that occurred before he became an NFL draftee and a New England Patriot. I think for anyone it would be an embarrassing situation," Watson said. "Brandon has shown to many people the kind of person he is before and after being drafted in the second round. He's hoping to put this behind him and looks forward to having a great football season."